And, it is raining in the mountain area. Zeno walks wobbly and slips down on the muddy floor. In a daze, he thinks that he is so hungry yet strangely enough, he obviously couldn’t die of hunger. He is already indifferent to everything and he doesn’t want to stand up again. It has been many years since they have parted that day. The people in the city started to feel disgusted with him to the point of dreading him because his outer appearance doesn’t change. So, he decided to choose the next successor and leave the royal city. Afterwards, he noticed a baffling thing. Even if White and the others aren’t around, he can feel still the four dragons’ presence [/breath] so he quietly searched out where he felt it. At that place, there is a group of people quietly living and offering sacrifices to the dragon. And among that people, is a young boy. Zeno is startled to see the young boy with the dragon’s claw for his right hand. He quickly turned to leave but the people saw him. Thinking that he is an enemy, one of them fired an arrow at him. Holding the arrow that hit his back, Zeno thought that the one standing there is the White dragon who he doesn’t know.
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After removing the arrow, he recalls White telling him that no matter how many years, he’ll wait for him even if he turns into an old man. Zeno finally realizes that he is an idiot. Obviously they are no longer around, so for things to reach this stage there is no use of regretting it. End flashback. Zeno wakes up and notices that he is in a rundown shack. He looks at the door which suddenly fell down. A young girl calls out that it is broken but forget about it. She is carrying some food cooked on a pot. Putting the pot on the side, she says that he is already awake so wait a moment and she’ll give him something to eat. She introduces herself as Kaya [guesswork from 佳耶]. She explains that she found him collapsed by the road side and it is great that he is still alive. At first, she thought that he is dead because of his blood stained clothes. She had washed his clothes and air-dried it. She asks if he doesn’t mind that she stripped him of his clothes without permission and sorry for making him feel embarrassed. He looks surprised and asks where his pendant is. After taking it from the table, she holds it to him and he quickly grabs it.
Seeing him looking tense and holding tightly to it, she apologizes for putting it aside without permission and she wasn’t thinking of stealing it. She gives him some food. He didn’t react so she urges him to quickly eat for isn’t he hungry even if the food doesn’t have any taste. He says that there’s no need..for one will die if one doesn’t eat..and he wants to die. She looks surprised at him. That night, he hears someone coughing. He sees Kaya coughing on the floor that he quickly goes to her to ask if she is alright. He is startled to see her coughing blood. She apologizes for waking him up and says that it is alright for this is an ordinary thing. She doesn’t want to infect people with her illness so she is living alone. She apologizes for not telling him since she was just thinking of giving him food and making him go. She tells him that it is best for him to quickly leave this place. Zeno looks around and notices how rundown the place is. He carries her up. She tries to protest that it is better for him not to touch her. He assures her that he won’t get sick. Then he becomes wobbly while trying to carry her.
Zeno bends down to his knee and tells Kaya who is suppressing her laughter not to laugh for it will make him lose strength. Giggling Kaya asks if she is that heavy. Trying to carry her up again, Zeno says that she isn’t, but rather, he doesn’t have strength. He apologizes for obviously she is sharing her scarce food yet he didn’t even thank her. She tells him that she isn’t doing some amazing thing. After he puts her on the bed, she asks what his name is. After a bit of hesitation, he says that his name is Zeno. She tells him that is very easy to remember. He tells her that he would have soon forgotten his name for it has been a long time since someone called his name. She tells him that if it is about quickly forgetting it, it is good to call one’s own name. Since she has been alone for such a long time, she is also like that at times. Zeno smiles and says that it feels like she is like a child. Kaya smiles and says that she’ll remember his name and she’s so happy because it has been a long time since she talked with someone. Falling asleep, she says that today is a good day, goodbye..Zeno. This made Zeno call out her name which wakes her up and asks what it is.
He admits that he was startled for she is still alive. She says that of course, she is still alive and it is because she felt that it is better for him not to come back here so she said goodbye. He says that she took care of him before so this time around, he’ll return the favor. She smiles and asks what that return favor is and it is alright. Seeing him looking flustered, she tells him not to show that kind of expression again and honestly speaking, she is already very happy that she can have a conversation with him. Later on, Zeno is carrying a basket of vegetables. He happily calls out to Kaya. Carrying some firewood, Kaya asks where he got that from. Zeno says that he worked very hard today that his boss gave him more salary so today, they can make some delicious food. Holding up her arms, Kaya happily exclaims that’s great. He also holds up his arms and exclaims that’s great. He looks happy upon seeing how happy Kaya looks. So, he has been earning money at one side and staying on at Kaya’s place as a freeloader. They eat together the food. He tells her about not slicing the vegetables in equal size that some are still not cooked. She says that it is fine as long as it is almost cooked.
Then, he says that he has a gift for her. He takes out a pretty flower. She says that it is so cute. He puts it on her hair. She happily says that she’ll take it. The two hold up their hands together and exclaim that it’s really cute. So, they do laundry together and carry vegetables together. And he happily shows her things. When he holds her shoulder, she says that it is good if time can stop. This startles Zeno and lets her go. At the house, Kaya is having a coughing fit again. He is flustered to see her coughing blood and assuring him that she is alright. Then, she tells him that she’ll be squeezed. He has put a box and some bucket filled with things on top of her. He says that he thought that putting heavy things on her will make her not feel cold. As she says that even if it is interesting but geez.. He quickly runs off and tells her to wait for him in a while.
Later on, he comes back with a small pouch. Holding it, she says that it is warm so what is it. He says that he roasted a rock warm and used a cloth to cover it. He says that if she is cold again, he’ll make another one for her. He tells her that he’ll do lots of things for her so she can warmly go to sleep. She tells him that she already received a lot of thank you gifts from him and it is already enough. He no longer needs to take care of her again. He asks if she hates being with him. She says how she can possibly hate him for she is happy everday but she really doesn’t know when she’ll infect him and even if she is alone, she can live on. He tells her that he said that he won’t get sick. She protests that he is working as if his life depended on it for her medical expenses. He assures her that he really likes to work so it is no problem. He says that he always want to talk with her. Flustered Kaya says, but she.. He tells her that he wants to always be with her. She protests that they have no way of always being together for she..
Zeno tells her, “Kaya, please marry me.” This surprises her and she starts to sob out loud in happiness. Outside the house, Zeno holds his pendant tightly and calls out to the dragon god on why he won’t come out. He asks for him to come out and please save Kaya. Since he can give him an eternal life then he definitely can extend Kaya’s life so please save her. He wanted to be with her even for a day and if he can grant his wish, and he’ll really do not have any other request. It wouldn’t matter to him if he is always like this, unable to die, he’ll always be his slave. He kept on praying for the dragon god to save Kaya but no matter how he shouted as if his life depended on it, his voice cannot be conveyed [to the dragon god]. Later on [I guess], Zeno holds out to Kaya’s outreached hand. She thanks him and hopes that they’ll meet each other again in heaven. He says, ..ya. And, the hand turned into a skeleton that he kept on holding on to.
Comment: And, Zeno did regret not going to see White before he died. I guess he finally realize it when the White dragon he felt is a totally different person. He passed out the chance to bid his friend a last goodbye and the ones he had been serving since the separation, started to detest him to the point that he has to leave. And, I guess he learned from it that he won’t run away from it again with Kaya. I guess in those times, that can be considered ‘married’. It turns out that his ‘wife’ is a dying woman so there is no child. For him to keep on holding to her skeletal hand, I guess he probably vowed never to fall in love again. It is indeed quite sad for someone to wish death when someone beside him would most probably wish for life. Well, nevertheless, they had been happy even if it is only for a brief time. I do wonder though if Zeno is still a priest, would the god dragon grant his wish? He is already asking for just an extension of one day with Kaya yet it wasn’t granted. Won’t that make Zeno bitter with the dragon god? From this, it seems that Zeno cannot extend someone’s life or revive someone using his powers. Scans by 红莲汉化组
Word of the day:
When you’re willing to give of yourself, to be a friend, to talk to someone who’s lonely, or to make someone fell important, this brings with it a certain satisfaction and reward of spirit. ‘Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy. Hosea 10:12’ ~ 101 mottos for success by J. Richards and M.S. Fontaine